February 23, 2014

Reading

The Book of Leviticus   19:1-2, 17-18

19:1	The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
19:2	Speak to the entire assembly of the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them: Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.
19:16	You shall not be a detractor, nor a whisperer, among the people. You shall not stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am the Lord.
19:17	You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but reprove him openly, lest you have sin over him.
19:18	Do not seek revenge, neither should you be mindful of the injury of your fellow citizens. You shall love your friend as yourself. I am the Lord.

Second Reading

First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians   3: 16-23

3:16 Do you not know that you are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives within you?

3:17 But if anyone violates the Temple of God, God will destroy him. For the Temple of God is holy, and you are that Temple.

3:18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become foolish, so that he may be truly wise.

3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. And so it has been written: “I will catch the wise in their own astuteness.”

3:20 And again: “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”

3:21 And so, let no one glory in men.

3:22 For all is yours: whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or the present, or the future. Yes, all is yours.

3:23 But you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Gospel

Matthew   5: 38-48

5:38 You have heard that it was said: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

5:39 But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil, but if anyone will have struck you on your right cheek, offer to him the other also.

5:40 And anyone who wishes to contend with you in judgment, and to take away your tunic, release to him your cloak also.

5:41 And whoever will have compelled you for one thousand steps, go with him even for two thousand steps.

5:42 Whoever asks of you, give to him. And if anyone would borrow from you, do not turn away from him.

5:43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall have hatred for your enemy.’

5:44 But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you.

5:45 In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust.

5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors behave this way?

5:47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more have you done? Do not even the pagans behave this way?

5:48 Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.”